I want to read the LotR books, but should I bother with The Hobbit?

[Oblivion]

I haven't seen the movies, btw.

[BlueTsunami]

I read the LotR books and only had the memory of watching The Hobbit (animated Movie) as a child. There are a bunch of references to The Hobbit and Bilbo's journey but I wouldn't say its required. Though, after reading LotR, it'll definitely make you want to read it.

[Fox In The Snow]

Read the hobbit first, it's a precurser to the LotR trilogy. It gives rich details on middle earth, character's, places etc... and there are recurring charcter's from Hobbit to LotR.  I don't want to spoil it for you so I'll leave it at that.

[Smooth Groove]

Yes.  It's a great standalone story and the tone is also lighter.  If you read this first, then you can tell how things have gotten much worse for Middle Earth at the beginning of LOTR. 

[Gay Boy]

Read The Hobbit first. A lot of things are confusing without it.

[Madrun Badrun]

yep, it makes a good intro to the others. 

[demi]

play the game instead

[Ichirou]

The Hobbit is very pleasant light reading anyway, so I would recommend you read it even if you're not going to read the LotR trilogy.

[Mandark]

I really enjoyed reading the Hobbit, and I can not get through the LOTR books at all.  I've probably tried half a dozen times over my life, and half the time I can't even get through Tom Bombadil.

[Bloodwake]

IMO, the Hobbit is fucking awesome. So do it.

[Synbios459]

Read the Silmirillion before both.

[Ecrofirt]

I liked The Hobbit more than the others.

[Oblivion]

Thanks for the input, guys! I shall read this book.

[xnikki118x]

My friend is a big fan of all the books and The Hobbit is her favorite. I've never read it, but I recommend it on her behalf.